Flying-machine.



R. E. FRIEDRICH.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16.1911.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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R. E. FRIEDRICH.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. I917.

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FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16. 1917.

Patented Aug. 21, 1917.

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INVENTOR WITNESSES ATTORNEY R. E. FRIEDRICH.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 16, 1917.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 21, 191% Application filed March 16, 1917. Serial No. 1.553%.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RoBnRT E. Fnmnnron, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rogers, in the county of Presque Isle and State of Michigan, have invented new and useful Improvements in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the helicopter type, the object of the 1nvention being to provide in such type of flying machine, a novel arrangement of propellers having a certain relative arrangement to each other and to the body and frame of the machine,-whereby one of the propellers may be ,used as a direct lifting screw and for additionally maintaining the equilibrium thereof, the other propellers being so arranged with relation to said direct lifting propeller and the body of the machine and a special form of canopy, deflector and parachute, that the last named propellers may be shifted as to their angular relations to each other and to the body to lift the machine, drive the same in a forward or backward direction, and also assist in restoring the equilibrium of the machine, as well as steering the machine along any desired course. a

A further object of the invention is to so arrange the propellers with relation to the body of the machine that they will serve as protecting means for the body and occupants thereof during storms and will at all times direct the currents of air downwardly at the sides of the body and not upon the same, thereby protecting the occupants of the body and increasing the lifting action of the flying machine as a whole.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construcherein described, illustrated and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved flying machine.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section through the machine.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail section through one of the tubular frames or out- Il e F ig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the joint between one of the outri gers and the body.

ig. 6 is a side. elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 5.

ranged within convenient Referring to the drawings 1 designates the body of the machine which may of course be of any desired size and capacity accordin to the lifting power of the machine. ituated within the body 1 and arranged preferably in advance of the center of gravity, is an engine or motor 2 the shaft 3 of which extends in a fore and aft direction and projects in advance as well as in rear of the body of the engine.

The shaft 3 is normally horizontal and is connected by gears 4 and 5 at one end and gears 6 and 7 at the other end to a pair of normally horizontal countershafts 8 which are parallel to each other and at right angles to the engine shaft 3. Each of the shafts 3 is journaled in bearings in the side members of the body 1 and extends laterally beyond the sides of the body through tubular frames or outriggers each of which comprises a substantially horizontal tubular member 9, an angular tubular member 10, and a brace 11 also of tubular formation, a triangular outrigger frame being thus produced which is adapted to be turned around the adjacent portion of the respective shaft 8 in order to tilt the propellers carried by propeller shafts 13, the latter being connected by gears 14 to the adjacent end of the respective shaft 8. On the outer extremity of each shaft 13 is fixedly mounted a screw propeller 15 which constitutes a lifting, driving and steering pro eller.

aoh of the frame members 9 has adjacent to the inner end thereof and in close proximity to one side of the body 1, an upstanding arm 16 and said arms are connected in pairs by connecting rods 17 as best illustrated in Figs. 1 and, 2 so that an equal turning movement may be imparted to corresponding front and rear frame members 9 for the purpose. of correspondingly and equally turning or inclining the propellers 15 at one side of the body The rod 17 is pivotally attached at a suitable point indicated at 18 to a hand lever 19 arreach of the operator while in his seat 20 located within the body ofthe-machine. It will be understood that two of such levers 19 are employed, the same being arranged one at each side of the body and capable of independent operation so that the operator may advance one lever 19 farther than the other or may push one of said levers ahead while pulling the other lever in a rearward direction. Tie rods or of the machine.-

frames or outriggers by which the propellers and their shafts are supported. The body 1, when the machine is at rest 1s supported by wheels or casters 25 journaled in supporting frames or forks 26 yieldingly mounted in relation to the body 1 by means of cushioning springs 27 which serve to absorb landing shocks and the like.

Extending centrally upward from the machine is a tubular housing 28 in which is a vertical shaft 29 having fast on the upper end thereof a directlifting propeller 30. The shaft 29 is connected by means of gears 31 and 32 at its lower. end tov the engine shaft 3 and is continuously driven thereby. The propeller 30 is located at a suflicient elevation above the body to serve as a constant equilibrium means. Downwardly diverging stays 33 are fastened at their upper extremities to the upperend of the housing '28 and are attached at their lower extremities to the body 1.

Arranged above the body 1 and between the horizontal planes of the propeller 30 and the zone of operation of the propellers 15 is a combined canopy, deflector and parachute 34 pointed at the front and rear so as to form a substantially stream line body both in a horizontal and vertical direction so as not to offer any more resistance than is necessary to both the lifting and forward propelling operation of the machine. The canopy 34 embraces or straddles the shaft housing 28 and is shown as attached to the stays 33 and also to the housing 28. The down draft of air from the lifting propeller 30 impinges against the canopy 34 which thereby acts asa deflector and spreads such current of air laterally in both directions, delivering the same to the under sides of the lifting, driving and steering propellers 15, thereby furnishing additional air upon which the last named propellers may act.

. From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings it will now be understood that by means of the two hand levers 19, the propellers 15 at one side of the machine may be shifted independently of the corresponding propellers at the opposite side of the machine. By thrusting both of the levers 19 forward at the same time and equally, all of the protion. In ascending, the propellers 15 may be inclined in a forward direction so as to propel the machine in a corresponding direction while simultaneously effecting a lift. In descending, the propellers may be tilted rearwardly and the speed thereof decreased so as to produce a gliding operation. While in flight, .by advancing one of the levers 19 a little farther than the other lever, the machine may be steered to one side or the other and also caused to bank in proportion to the curve being described by the machine during such steering operation. For the purpose of rising quickly fromv a given spot, the propellers 15 may be arranged as shown in full lines in Fig. 2 giving them their maximum lifting effect and they may be utilized in the same position when making a straight vertical descent, the engine then being so throttled as to reduce the speed of the propellersl5 and 30 to the necessary extent and in accordance with the speed desired. It will be observed that the propellers 15 do not direct any air against the body of the machine but downwardly at opposite sides thereof, while the air from the direct lifting propeller 30 is deflected by the canopy 34:

and delivered to the under sides of the driving, lifting and steering propellers. In case of an emergency, the canopy 34: acts as a parachute, preventing the too rapid descent of the machine so as to save the lives of the occupants of the machine.

I claim j 1. A flying machine, comprising in combi- 106 nation, a body, a motor mounted in said body, a motor shaft extending in a fore and aft direction, countcrshafts geared to and driven by said motor shaft and arranged parallel to each other and at right angles to 110 the motor shaft, said countershafts extending at both ends laterally beyond the body, tubular outrigger frames mounted upon the laterally projecting portions of said countershafts and embodying angular and upwardly diverging portions, propeller shafts journaled in said angular portions of the frame and geared to said countershafts, lifting, driving and steering propellers fast on said propeller shafts, a central vertical shaft geared to said motor shaft and having fast thereon on its upper end a direct lifting propeller, means for deflecting the down-' wardly moving current of air produced by the last named propeller and directing the same to the under sides of the first named propellers, and means for rocking said tubular Outriggers to impart a forward or rearward inclination to the propeller shafts.

2. A flying machine, comprising in combination, a body, a motor mounted in said body, a motor shaft extending in a fore and aft direction, countershafts geared to and driven by said motor shaft and arranged parallel to each other and at right angles to the motor shaft, said countershafts extending at both ends laterally beyond the body, tubular outrigger frames mounted upon the laterally projecting portions of said countershafts and embodying angular and upwardly diver 'ng portions, propeller shafts journaled in said angular portions of the frame and geared to said countershafts, lifting, drivin and steering propellers fast on said prope ler shafts, a central vertical shaft geared to said motor shaft and having fast thereon on its upper end a direct lifting propeller, means for deflecting the downwardly moving current of air produced by the last named propeller and directing the same to the under sides of the first named propellers, and means for rocking the outriggers at one side of the body independently gf the outriggers at the opposite side of the ody. I

3. A flying machine, comprising in combination, a body, a motor mounted in said body, a motor shaft extending in a fore and aft direction, cquntershafts geared to and driven by said motor shaft and arranged parallel to each other and at right angles to the motor shaft, said countershafts extending at both ends laterally beyond the body, tubular outrigger, frames mounted upon the laterally projecting portions of said countershafts and embodylng angular and upwardly diverging portions, propeller- 4 shafts journaled in said angular portions of the frame and geared to said countershafts, lifting, driving and steering pro pellers fast on said propeller shafts, a cen tral vertical shaft eared. to said motor shaft and having fast t ereon on its upper end a direct lifting propeller, a ,combined canopy, deflector and parachute located between the body and said. direct lifting propeller and adapted to deflect the downwardly movingl current of air from the last named prope ROBERT E. FRIEDRJIGH. 

